the elite players get only a small % of the benefits compared to the economic
return they give their schools and the NCAA. they certainly aren't slaves, but
they are entitled to and should protect their long term interests. until the
schools offer to pay for or subsidize disability or injury insurance, the players
would be foolish to jeopardize their ability to sign a lucrative contract by playing
in a bowl game. football is a sport where a catastrophic injury can happen at
any time and will happen to far too many athletes. they are doing the prudent
not the dumb thing.